Wynford officials say new school building a good deal

Oct. 28, 2011

Written by

Henry S. Conte

Telegraph-Forum

Wynford Local Schools has a 4.25-mill levy on the ballot. / FILE PHOTO

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HOLMES TOWNSHIP -- In an effort to build a school unlike any other in the area, Wynford Local Schools is turning to its voters.

The measure would support a $21.3 million facility for grades 7 through 12. The levy would fund the district's portion -- $9.38 million, plus $1 million in locally funded initiatives. The state would kick in $11 million.

The proposed levy will be for 4.25 mills for 37 years, with a 5.25 percent interest rate.

The locally funded initiatives allow the district to add to the school as it sees fit -- from additional woodwork to computers or anything the board and community deems necessary. The levy is 3.75 mills for construction of the facility and an additional 0.5 mills for maintenance.

The cost to a taxpayer with a home valued at $100,000 is $130.45 per year. That is about 36 cents per day, or $2.51 per week, for the next 37 years.

"I have not heard of any organized opposition to the levy," Superintendent Steve Mohr said. "We have had some legitimate questions, and I feel like we have answered those."

Not everything in the plan is set in stone.

"There are a lot of decisions to be made," Mohr said. "But I promise to re-engage the community on what the building needs and what it should look like.

"The template we used to build the elementary (the levy was passed in 1997 and the school began operation in 2000) got very good reviews. We got all the stakeholders involved and we are going to do that again.

"The biggest mistake I have seen is that schools just try to rush forward once the levy is passed. We are going to take our time and re-engage the community."

Mohr said the biggest question posed to him is whether the new school is needed.

"The school is going to serve generations of students for the next 50 years. And this is undoubtedly the cheapest way to do it," Mohr said.

Whatever happens Nov. 8, Wynford will return to voters in 2012 for a renewal and operating levy -- both are already on the books.

The emergency levy is for $350,000, which costs a taxpayer $87.88 per year for a house valued at $100,000. It has been on the books since 1994.

The operating levy is for 6.9 mills and costs a taxpayer $188 per year for a house valued at $100,000.

It has been on the books since 2003.

"We know we are in difficult times," Mohr said. "We want to address the needs of our current students and we are unlikely to have this opportunity again."